About us
The Optimisation and Numerical Analysis group at the School of Mathematics has a range of interests in theoretical and combinatorial optimisation, numerical methods for PDEs and integral equations, dynamical systems, numerical linear algebra, and more, with a wide variety of applications.
In optimisation, the main focus of the research activity of the group is on mathematical theory and methods applicable to managerial decision-making, particularly non-linear, discrete, and multi-criteria optimisation. Research is typically a mixture of theoretical investigation and practical application or industrial collaboration. As an example, the image to the right is of a bridge showing the result of topology optimisation starting from a dense very mesh of potential bars.
Numerical analysis research at Birmingham covers a wide range of areas related to the design, analysis and implementation of robust and accurate numerical algorithms for solving mathematical problems coming from real-life applications. The applications of interest include problems in computational fluid dynamics, plasma dynamics and ecology, electromagnetics, linear elasticity, fuel cell modelling, topology optimization, financial modelling and biological fluid mechanics.
The two subgroups of Optimisation and Numerical Analysis knit together and interact closely, for example organising the biannual IMA Conference on Numerical Linear Algebra and Optimisation since 2007 and the joint Optimisation and Numerical Analysis seminar.
A list of recent grants obtained by the Group can be found on the grants page.